Lindsey Graham never had children, but raised his younger sister after tragedy struck family

WASHINGTON, DC: Senator Lindsey Graham, who died at the age of 71 at his Washington, DC home, never married or had children. Instead, one of the defining chapters of his personal life was raising his younger sister, Darline Graham Nordone, after the siblings lost both parents within 15 months.

Their mother died of Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1976, and their father succumbed to a heart attack the following year, leaving Graham, then 20, to care for his 11-year-old sister.

After joining the US Air Force, he legally adopted Nordone so she could receive military benefits, according to NPR.

Darline Nordone says 'Lindsey was always my parent'

Nordone often appeared alongside Graham during political campaigns, offering voters a glimpse into the senator's personal life.

"Lindsey was always my parent," she told The New York Times. "There was no doubt in my mind or anyone else's mind that Lindsey was my guardian."

She recalled how Graham taught her to ride a bicycle and helped her navigate the loss of their parents, describing him as both an older brother and a parental figure.

A childhood marked by hardship

The siblings grew up behind the family's restaurant and pool hall in South Carolina, then known as the Sanitary Cafe. According to The New York Times, they later moved into a trailer before settling in a house next door.

Graham often spoke about his modest upbringing in his memoir, recalling that he grew up in the back room of a bar and shared a bathroom with mill workers who frequented the establishment.

Politico reported that he also remembered heating water on the stove for baths during his childhood.

Family duty became Lindsey Graham's lifelong commitment

Nordone has suggested that her brother's responsibilities as her guardian played a significant role in his personal choices.

"He was a young man taking on a young girl and teenager to raise," she told The New York Times. "He was just dedicating all of that time to raising me and going to school and trying to get an education. There's just only so much time in a day."

Although Graham never had children of his own, Nordone went on to marry and raise a family. She currently works helping people with disabilities find employment.

Reflecting on the difficult years after their parents' deaths, Nordone told NPR that Graham never wavered in his commitment to her.

It was hard when we lost my mom and dad," she said. "Lindsey assured me that he was going to take care of me, and he was going to be there for me. That's just who he is."

His devotion to his sister remained one of the most enduring aspects of his life, even as he spent decades in public office.